Many candidates fail not because they do not know the traffic code, but because they fall for the tricky questions. The GOCA exam asks its questions sharply and in detail. Three pitfalls frequently recur: the difference between text and image, absolute words like "always" and "never", and background details.
1. Text versus Image
In almost every question, you see a realistic traffic situation on your screen. A common mistake is to only look at the photo and not read the text carefully. Sometimes the image shows a dry road, while the question states: "It is icy and the road surface is like a mirror. Are you allowed to drive 90 kilometers per hour here?" Always base your answer on the situation described in the text, even if it does not match the standard image.
2. Words That Change Everything
Belgian legislation is very precise, and this is reflected in the answers. During your 15 seconds of thinking time, pay attention to:
- "Always" and "never": these are absolute words and a warning signal. Many rules have exceptions, so check if there is an exception that applies before choosing such an answer.
- "Must" versus "may": this determines whether something is an obligation or a permission. For example, you may use a bicycle lane with a car to position yourself, but you do not have to drive on it.
3. Scan the Entire Situation
The questions test whether you keep an overview. Do not just look at the car right in front of you, but scan the entire image. Sometimes there is a small traffic sign in the background that completely changes the right of way rule at the intersection. An unpaved side road (dirt road) in the corner of the image is also a classic way to test whether you know the exceptions to the right of way from the right: those coming from a dirt road do not have the right of way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Often because of tricky questions: they do not read the text carefully or miss a detail in the image.
"Must" is an obligation, "may" is a permission. That one word often determines the correct answer.
15 seconds, after the question has been read out.
Train Yourself Against Tricky Questions
Our free practice exams are structured in the same way as the real GOCA tests, so you can learn to recognize the pitfalls.
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Last updated: June 2026 · Content verified by Mathieu, instructor · Source: GOCA and the Belgian Highway Code